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Trustee urges quick sign-up for dispatch to avoid licensing delays; estimates $15,000 cost
Summary
Trustee Drake told the board the village must sign up for dispatch before a July 2 radio-system switch to 800 MHz or risk losing communications and fines; he estimated dispatch and equipment setup would total about $15,000 and said lack of dispatch is blocking ambulance licensing and could delay a planned January 1 ambulance service start.
Trustee Drake told the board the village faces an urgent deadline: the radio system will change to 800 MHz on July 2, and Ford Heights must sign up for dispatch service before that date or risk being unable to communicate with fire dispatch and facing fines.
"Come July 2, our area will go to 800 megahertz. So this is why I've been pushing to get our dispatch signed up," Drake said, noting the dispatch contract and terminal setup is required before the village can obtain the state license for an ambulance. Drake estimated the total cost to set up dispatch and related equipment at about $15,000 and said payment plans (quarterly or monthly) and multi-year leases are possible.
Drake said the village was aiming to have ambulance service operating by January 1 but cannot complete licensing without dispatch. Trustees discussed the readiness of vehicles (stretchers and basic equipment are in place) and agreed staff and counsel need to move the dispatch and fire-recovery paperwork forward to access call-collection revenue and licensing opportunities.
